The Tarte Tatin Topic

[awbrig]

Cause it was upturned from the baking pie dish onto a serving platter.

i gotta enroll in those mind reading courses again

[Suvir Saran]

Cause it was upturned from the baking pie dish onto a serving platter.

i gotta enroll in those mind reading courses again

I was trained to understand it as paying attention. Not mind reaidng.

The pics posted are Great.

In fact even the towel that could have been used in the turning process is shown.

For those with a trained eye, that is another great proof that the man taking the pics really did prepare it themselves (Or at least someone in that setting where the pic was taken may have).

[awbrig]

Suvir, im sorry for making a mistake. i didnt catch the towel in the turning process.

Both pics have 2 different containers, one appears to have walnuts or pecans in it and the other doesn't. i dont think I was being completely wacko in thinking they were possibly two different batches. But again, maybe I was. in which case, what the hell was I thinking,,,I guess im not that samrt...

Edited December 10, 2002 by awbrig (log)

[Suvir Saran]

Suvir, im sorry for making a mistake. i didnt catch the towel in the turning process.

Both pics have 2 different containers, one appears to have walnuts or pecans in it and the other doesn't.  i dont think I was being completely wacko in thinking they were possibly two different batches.  But again, maybe I was.  in which case, what the hell was I thinking,,,I guess im not that samrt...

Awbrig,

Tarte Tatin is like an upside down cake. Remember those? They are an American confection.

You should at least be familiar with those sweet man.

A tarte tatin is prepared in a skillet or pan.. and then upturned onto a platter. In doing so, the crust that you see on the top (first pic) goes to the bottom in the serving platter. In doing that, the apples and in this case also the pecans, come to the top (second pic).

It is not that difficult. But I guess it is simpler once you have made them. They are delicious. Have you never eaten a tarte tatin? Maybe CT can have their pastry chef make you one and also give you a demo. I am sure for all the work you do promoting him on eGullet, that is the least he can do:raz:

The 2 pics have different containers for one is the container in which the tarte tatin was baked and the other is the platter in which it is being served.

[Suvir Saran]

Not to lose the topic... FoodMan, thanks for the pics... Your tarte tatin looks delicious. Thanks for sharing the pic... You are very naughty though.. Now I am craving a bite.

Maybe Mlpc, or one of the other pastry chefs we have here can share their own experiences with this dessert. Mine unfortunately are based on what you did.

I learned how to make pastries from Julia Child (through her books).

And I thank her every day.

[FoodMan]

Thanks you for the excellent expalnation Suvir. It is true Awbrig the blue one is the one where the tarte was baked in and the second one (white) is the one it was inverted into for serving.

How did you like its taste? What would you want to do differently? I know you said make the dough thinnner... But what else? What did you eat it with? I have enjoyed it with creme fraiche or even plain ole vanilla ice cream or just by itself.

What kind of crust did you use?

I absolutely loved its buttery caramely taste Suvir and the crunchy pecans were a delectable addition. As to what I would do different I mentioned making the pastry THICKER not thinner. I know it looks pretty thick in the pic but it is actually pretty thin especially in the center (Julia said to role the dough to a 1/8 inch thickness, I might do a 1/4 inch next time). The other thing I might try and do is to get more color on the apples maybe by cooking a tad longer or even caramelizing the apples with some sugar under the broiler (Julia mentions that as well). I served it with a some Breyers French Vanilla ice cream, creme fraiche would also be great but I had no homemade at the moment. As for the pastry I also used what Julia asks for in the recipe --"Pate Brisee Sucree" or Sweet Short Paste.

Thanks for all the comments

FM

Edited December 10, 2002 by FoodMan (log)

[Suvir Saran]

Thanks you for the excellent expalnation Suvir. It is true Awbrig the blue one is the one where the tarte was baked in and the second one (white) is the one it was inverted into for serving.

How did you like its taste? What would you want to do differently? I know you said make the dough thinnner... But what else? What did you eat it with? I have enjoyed it with creme fraiche or even plain ole vanilla ice cream or just by itself.

What kind of crust did you use?

I absolutely loved its buttery caramely taste Suvir and the crunchy pecans were a delectable addition. As to what I would do different I mentioned making the pastry THICKER not thinner. I know it looks pretty thick in the pic but it is actually pretty thin especially in the center (Julia said to role the dough to a 1/8 inch thickness, I might do a 1/4 inch next time). The other thing I might try and do is to get more color on the apples maybebe cooking a tad longer or even caramelizing the apples with some sugar under the broiler (Julia mentions that as well). I served it with a some Breyers French Vanilla ice cream, creme fraiche would also be great but I had no homemade at the moment. As for the pastry I also used what Julia asks for in the recipe --"Pate Brisee Sucree" or Sweet Short Paste.

Thanks for all the comments

FM

You are quite the tarte tatin man already!

See, it is easy to become a convert.

It is so simple and yet so addictive.

I too love it for that very smooth texture and yet the very rich caramel flavor.

If you follow Julias recipe, you must have certainly added some lemon, I love that hint of lemon in the apples... I actually add zest as well.

And I happen to be a fan of very thin crust. It is just enough for me to have a slight hint of something cruncy, but not to have it too dense. But that is very individual. I can imagine that it could taste just as great to another with a thicker dough.

I have made it as you do... using Pate Brisee Sucree and also with puff pastry. Both have their own place.

I cook it as per Julias timing and get a darker caramel that I absolutely adore.

I am sure when Mlpc and the other professionals see this, they will teach us both many other subtle nuances.

[FoodMan]

If you follow Julias recipe, you must have certainly added some lemon, I love that hint of lemon in the apples... I actually add zest as well.

And I happen to be a fan of very thin crust. It is just enough for me to have a slight hint of something cruncy, but not to have it too dense. But that is very individual. I can imagine that it could taste just as great to another with a thicker dough.

I have made it as you do... using Pate Brisee Sucree and also with puff pastry. Both have their own place.

Actually I expected Julia to ask for tossing the apples in lemon juice but in the recipe that I used from "Mastering the Art... Volume I" she only asks for tossing them in sugar and optional cinnamon. Since it was my first TT I did not want to stray from the recipe and decided to use lemon juice on my second try (lemon zest sounds good too).

Before reading this thread and Julia's recipe I thought all TT are made with puff pastry. but since julia's recipe asks for "Pate Brisee Sucre" I assumed that this is the more traditional. Am I correct in this assumption?

FM

[Lesley C]

I have a Tarte Tatin recipe in my book Suvir, you should try it out.

I use a combination of Granny Smiths and Goldens, or Cortland apples, and I use pate brisee instead of feuilletee.

A good trick for Tatin is to let it sit a while once baked for the juices to firm up before inverting the pan. You can also let it cool completely, and then heat it lightly on the stove when ready to flip it. Just never flip it when it's hot because the apples sometimes render quite a bit of juice.

I'd add a vanilla bean to the base caramel and I think I bake it for a while before adding the crust.

Boy, I can't remember the details. It's been a while since I made one.

[Suvir Saran]

I hope Awbrig is not upset with me.

Awbrig, your playing innocent, and pretending to make a mistake (or maybe you did make a genuine mistake. Glad to know I am not alone in being fallible), gave me the opportunity to share what I knew about Tarte Tatin.

I hope I have not teased you too much. That was not meant to be the intent.

Do you like Tarte Tatin? I do.

Maybe I can make you one someday... They are great.

[Suvir Saran]

I have a Tarte Tatin recipe in my book Suvir, you should try it out.

I use a combination of Granny Smiths and Goldens, or Cortland apples, and I use pate brisee instead of feuilletee.

A good trick for Tatin is to let it sit a while once baked for the juices to firm up before inverting the pan. You can also let it cool completely, and then heat it lightly on the stove when ready to flip it. Just never flip it when it's hot because the apples sometimes render quite a bit of juice.

I'd add a vanilla bean to the base caramel and I think I bake it for a while before adding the crust.

Boy, I can't remember the details. It's been a while since I made one.

Thanks Lesley!

Do you know off hand what the classic crust would have been made with? What kind of pastry?

[awbrig]

I thought Tarte Tatin was a planet from Star Wars... just kidding I have to try this out soon! thanks...

Edited December 10, 2002 by awbrig (log)

[Suvir Saran]

I thought Tarte Tatin was a planet from Star Wars... just kidding I have to try this out soon! thanks...

You are a good sport!

[Suvir Saran]

I just pulled out my copy of Larousse Gastronomique. It calls for shortcrust pastry. In fact a French friend that comes from the same town as the Tatin sisters, also makes a very short crust... and his TT is one of the best I have ever eaten.

But I have seen many chefs do it with Puff pastry in the US. Especially at the "fancier" restaurants.

The Gastronomique calls Tarte Tatin:

"The name given to an apple tart that is cooked under a lid of pastry, but served with the pastry underneath and the fruit on top."

Edit: corrected spelling of fruit.

Edited December 10, 2002 by Suvir Saran (log)

[FoodMan]

I just pulled out my copy of Larousse Gastronomique.  It calls for shortcrust pastry.  In fact a French friend that comes from the same town as the Tatin sisters, also makes a very short crust... and his TT is one of the best I have ever eaten.

But I have seen many chefs do it with Puff pastry in the US.  Especially at the "fancier" restaurants.

The Gastronomique calls Tarte Tatin:

"The name given to an apple tart that is cooked under a lid of pastry, but served with the pastry underneath and the fuit on top."

I guess Pate Brisee Sucre it is.

Thanks Suvir.

FM

*note to self add "Larousse Gastronomique" to Christmas wish list*

[jaybee]

I just pulled out my copy of Larousse Gastronomique. It calls for shortcrust pastry. In fact a French friend that comes from the same town as the Tatin sisters, also makes a very short crust... and his TT is one of the best I have ever eaten.

That is my understanding too. Shortcrust pastry.

[Lesley C]

People, people hold on here!

Pate brisee and pate sucree are not the same thing!

Pate brisee is flaky pastry and pate sucree is shortcrust pastry.

I wouldn't use pate sucree for a tarte Tatin. Brisee is better.

[Steve Klc]

And then there's always pate sablee...

[kitwilliams]

I'm of the group who prefers puff pastry for my tarte tatin, however I bake the pastry on its own and not on top of the apples as I find baking it on the apples it never gets as crispy and sometimes tends to be doughy in the center (anyone else experience this or is it just lame-old me?). So I bake them separately then I invert the apples onto the pastry lined serving platter.

Gee, Suvir, you sure have started something here...I'm absolutely DYING for a tarte tatin now!

[Hub-UK2]

This is my all time favourite recipe. It makes me feel I can bake

I like creating savoury ones as well with caramelised onions.

The master of Tarte Tatin is Chef Michel Roux who gave me permission to reproduce his recipe on my site:

Tarte des Demoiselles Tatin (Upside-down Apple Tart) - http://www.hub-uk.com/foodpages07/recip0313.htm

I learnt to cook it from this article:

http://www.hub-uk.com/tallyrecip02/recipe0051.htm

And from that I created my own savoury recipe, Hub Leek Tarte Tatin:

http://www.hub-uk.com/foodpages20/recip0979.htm

but I now prefer using onions to leeks!

[Suvir Saran]

Gee, Suvir, you sure have started something here...I'm absolutely DYING for a tarte tatin now!

I can eat Tarte Tatin just about anytime.

[kitwilliams]

I can eat Tarte Tatin just about anytime.

Well, you are welcome over anytime! Just give me a few hours notice!

[Suvir Saran]

I can eat Tarte Tatin just about anytime.

Well, you are welcome over anytime! Just give me a few hours notice!

What city/state do I need to be in to avail this welcome?

[kitwilliams]

I can eat Tarte Tatin just about anytime.

Well, you are welcome over anytime! Just give me a few hours notice!

What city/state do I need to be in to avail this welcome?

To be specific, Belmont Heights in Long Beach, California.

D'ya have a trip west in the works?

[paddyh]

Second try at this damn dish: the first time I incinerated it (practically), the second time its underdone. The problem seems to be the amount of time it's cooking on the stovetop, I think. Anyone got any idea how long its got to cook up there, and what's the clue that tells when when to get it in the oven?

Thanks, in anticipation!